A Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt, Julia Angelica, has ended years of silence with serious allegations against Checkmat co-founder Leandro Alcantara Vieira, while publicly criticizing Checkmat for what she describes as institutional failures to act despite being informed more than two years ago.
Angelica recently shared an account of what she characterizes as inappropriate conduct by Leandro Vieira, which she says began when she was very young while competing at her first Pan American Championship.
In correspondence Angelica shared publicly, which she says was sent to Checkmat leadership more than two years ago, she detailed how the relationship allegedly began during that tournament trip. According to her account, unwelcome advances continued the following night, initiating what she describes as a coercive relationship that persisted into adulthood.
According to Angelica, the response from Checkmat leadership was minimal. She says she received a brief message thanking her for the feedback, followed by another message in which Vieira reportedly admitted he had not read the entire email due to travel and suggested an in-person meeting to clear up any misunderstandings.
Not much to clear after I already sent you a detailed four-page letter. Nothing more came of this.
Checkmat has only now suspended Vieira and attempted to distance itself from him. Angelica has also stated that she was aware of other stories connected to the same team.
In her social media posts, Angelica also referenced another young woman who experienced similar issues. In addition to that case, she stated there is a third situation, though details regarding the third have not been made public.
Alyssa Mila has publicly described two separate incidents that she characterizes as very serious. According to her posts, she alleges that she was assaulted by someone affiliated with Atos when she was 12 years old.
She further alleges that team members at both Atos and AOJ were unsupportive at the time.
Mila makes specific allegations that the Mendes brothers removed her from the gym after she spoke about what she experienced. She has also stated that the father of the Ruotolo brothers made inappropriate comments about her to her own father following the incident.
The Ruotolo brothers later attempted to distance themselves from allegations involving André Galvão, sharing a statement on Instagram.
Mila’s account then takes another turn. Following her experience at Atos and AOJ, she says she later trained at Checkmat, where she alleges she endured another assault.
This statement was originally made in 2021, but just last night Mila confirmed that the black belt she alleges behaved inappropriately toward her when she was 16 was Checkmat co-founder Ricardo Vieira.
Angelica referenced Mila’s case directly in her criticism of Checkmat.
This makes THREE CHECKMAT black belts that I know have been made aware of inappropriate conduct that STILL remain part of the team.
Following the allegations against Leandro Vieira, both Checkmat and Leo Vieira released statements. It remains unclear whether the organization will address the allegations involving Ricardo Vieira separately.
Her 2021 statement in full:
Her 2026 naming of Vieira
And Atos allegations:
